*Worship for Sunday October 18, 2020*
Preservice Music
Welcome to Worship & Prayer Concerns
Flowers on Oct. 18
Praise Song: “Seek Ye First” (2x)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Allelu, alleluia.
Confession & Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. (Silence is kept for reflection.)
Faithful God, have mercy on us.
We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We turn from your loving embrace and go our own ways. We pass judgment on one another before examining ourselves. We place our own needs before those of our neighbors. We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves. Make us humble, cast away our transgressions, and turn us again to life in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
God hears the cries of all who call out in need, and through his death and resurrection, Christ has made us his own. Hear the truth that God proclaims: Your sins are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness to do God’s work in the world. Amen.
Greeting
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
ALL: And also with you.
Hymn: “God of Grace and God of Glory” ELW# 705
1. God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your pow’r; crown your ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flow’r. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
2. Lo! The hosts of evil round us scorn the Christ, as sail his ways! From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
3. Cure your children’s warring madness; bend our pride to your control; shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss your kingdom’s goal, lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray: Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
*We Hear from God’s Word*
First Reading: I Thessalonians 1: 1-10
(Most likely this letter is the first written by Paul. Paul gives pastoral encouragement and reassurances to new Christians living in an antagonistic environment. Their commitment of faith, love, and hope makes them a model for other new Christian communities.)
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Word of God! Word of Life! ALL: Thanks be to God
Praise Song: “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah” ELW# 172
Halle, halle, hallelujah, Halle, halle, hallelujah,
Halle, halle, hallelujah, Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
The Holy Gospel Matthew Matthew 22: 15-22
(After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar)
L: The Holy Gospel of Matthew chapter 22 and I read in Jesus name. All: Glory to you, O Lord (Reading of the Text)
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Gospel of the Lord. ALL: Praise to you O Christ!
Children’s Message: “Jesus Loves the Little Children”
Sermon
HYMN: “We Give Thee but Thine Own” ELW# 686
1. We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be; all that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee.
2. May we thy bounties thus as stewards true receive, and gladly as thou blesses us, to thee our first fruits give.
3. The captive to release, to God the lost to bring, to teach the way of life and peace it is a Christ like thing.
Statement of Faith: Apostles’ Creed ELW page 105
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Prayers of the People
With confidence in God’s grace and mercy, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.
A brief silence.
Gracious God, you call us by name and invite us to share your good news. Send your Holy Spirit among preachers, missionaries, and evangelists. We give thanks for the witness of your servant Luke, the evangelist, whom the church commemorates today. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of praise, the heavens and all creation declare your salvation. From the rising of the sun to its setting, may the whole universe show forth your goodness. Raise up devoted stewards of all that you have made. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of all, may your word of justice sound forth in every place. Restore divided nations and communities with reconciling truth. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of light, we pray for those living with pain, illness, isolation, grief, anger, or doubt (especially). Join their voices in a new song, assuring them that you call them each by name. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of truth, you show no partiality. May your spirit guide the work of justices, magistrates, court officials, and all vocations of the law, that your promise of restoration may be known. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Living God, as you raised Jesus from the dead, so raise up those who have died in you (especially). We give thanks for their witness, confident of your rescuing welcome for all. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Listen as we call on you, O God, and enfold in your loving arms all for whom we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Share an expression of the Peace of the Risen Lord!
*We Give Our Tithes and Offering*
Offering & Special Music & Announcements
Prayer of Blessing
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. You have set before us these gifts of your good creation. Prepare us for your heavenly banquet, nourish us with this rich food and drink, and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world, through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Forever and ever Amen
Hymn: “Doxology” ELW#884
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heav’nly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
BENEDICTION Leader: Go in peace. ALL: Remember the poor!
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